SENATE PHILADELPHIA DELEGATION MEMBERS DEMAND SEPTA HEARINGS

            HARRISBURG, July 17 – State Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen (D-Phila.), Senate Philadelphia Delegation Chairwoman along with four other delegation members met with SEPTA officials to demand hearings to review SEPTA’s decision to raise fares and eliminate transfer service beginning August 1.

            All members expressed that the fare increases and transfer elimination would cause extreme hardship on citizens of Philadelphia, especially part time workers and families with children, as they would have to pay the base fare each time they entered a SEPTA vehicle.

            Members present at the meeting included Senators LeAnna Washington (D-Phila. /Montgomery), Christine Tartaglione (D-Phila.), Anthony H. Williams (D-Phila.) and Vincent Hughes (D-Phila.).

            “This is an outrage,” Kitchen said.  “Many of our low income citizens rely heavily on SEPTA for their transportation needs, the increase of the Day Pass, weekly and monthly TransPass, as well as the elimination of transfers could leave many individuals stranded.”

            Kitchen said that although tokens would remain $1.30 each, the One Day Convenience Pass rises to $6, a weekly TransPass is $20.75 and a monthly TransPass is $78.

            She also expressed her concern that the purchase of these passes is not accessible in all communities.

            “This is a great inconvenience to the thousands of SEPTA riders,” Kitchen said.  “We must do better.”

            SEPTA has said that the elimination of the transfer service, along with other measures, was necessary to offset funding cuts.